Suzanne McFadden is an award-winning sports writer of four decades, a book author and podcaster.
Lesley Murdoch
Dame Farah Palmer
Dr. Farah Palmer is a former New Zealand rugby union player and a prominent figure in women’s rugby. A trailblazer in the sport, she played for the New Zealand Black Ferns, earning 35 caps. Palmer was a key player in the team’s multiple Rugby World Cup victories, helping lead the Black Ferns to triumph in 1998, 2002, and 2006. Known for her leadership and expertise as a lock, she was integral to the team’s success and is regarded as one of the best players in women’s rugby history.
After retiring from playing, Dr. Palmer earned a PhD in education and became an advocate for women in sport, furthering her impact through her work as a coach, academic, and administrator. She has been a strong voice for gender equality in sports and continues to contribute to the growth and development of women’s rugby worldwide.
Polly Powrie
Caitlin Regal
Caitlin is an Olympic gold medallist (K2 500m, Tokyo 2020) and World Champion (K2 500m, Račice 2017) kayak sprinter.
Alison Shanks
Kirstie Stanway
Joseph Sullivan
Ivan Vicelich
Fred Woodcock
DJ Forbes
Ron Cheatley
Ruth Aitken
Mary Fisher
Paul Allison
Marc Hinton
Sarah Cowley Ross
Jodi Brown
Tom Bartlett
Tom is one of New Zealand’s most experienced sports journalists having covered global sports events including the Rugby World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Olympics and Paralympics Games.
Bernadine Oliver-Kerby
Andrew Mulligan
Andrew Alderson
Andrew writes and broadcasts for NZME, predominantly on cricket and the Olympic disciplines with Newstalk ZB and the New Zealand Herald. He has regularly worked as a correspondent overseas and currently presents the sports news on The Mike Hosking Breakfast.
Storm Purvis
Former Silver Fern turned broadcaster. Storm has hosted the Halbergs, is cohost of Crowd Goes Wild, and has worked on netball, football, rugby league, the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games as a reporter/presenter for Sky Sport. Storm is also a board member of the NZNPA.
Ben Fouhy
2003 World Champion K1 1000m
2003 Halberg Sportman of the Year
2004 Olympic Silver medallist K1 1000m
2006-2011 Holder of Worlds Best Time K1 1000m
Sarah Walker
NZ Olympian #1101, Olympic Silver 2012 in BMX Racing, IOC Member and mum of two.
Jan Shearer
Abby Wilson
Abby is the 1 News Sports Editor at TVNZ and has spent more than a decade covering Kiwi athletes and their achievements. She’s reported on Olympic and Commonwealth Games as well as America’s Cups and World Championships. Her award winning journalism has taken her around Aotearoa and the world and given her a front row seat to some of our most iconic sporting moments.
Karl Tenana
Former Rugby World Cup 7s winning captain. 2x Hong Kong player of the tournament. Commonwealth games gold medal. 4x World sevens series winner. Maori All Black. New Zealand secondary schools. Superrugby. Current Producer and head of commentary @World Rugby
Irene van Dyk
Originally from South Africa, where I played 72 tests for the national team, I immigrated to New Zealand in 2000 and became a Silver Fern and the most capped player.
Over my 20-year international career, I played 217 combined test caps. Since retiring from international netball in 2014, I have remained actively involved in the sport, focusing on grassroots development, coaching, and promoting inclusion and participation across all levels of netball.
I am a passionate advocate for youth development, community engagement, and fostering a lifelong love for the game. Initiatives such as futureFERNS, male participation and No limits netball and my commitment to creating inclusive environments exemplify my passion for my sport.
Grant Sharman
In 1977 aged 15, Grant broke his neck playing rugby. After three months in Middlemore Hospital, Grant was transferred to the newly opened Spinal Unit with the distinction of being it’s first patient. Grant was resident at the Spinal Unit from 1977-1988.
Grant played wheelchair rugby and was a member of the New Zealand Wheel Blacks at the 1995 and 1998 World Championships and 1996 and 2000 Paralympics, captain for the last three events. In 2003 he was appointed the Wheel Blacks Coach and the team went on to win the Gold medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics and the Silver medal at the 2006 World Championships in Christchurch. Grant was also Paralympics NZ’s High Performance Director from 2008-2012.
Being a member of The Halberg Sport Award’s judging team is both an honour and a privilege. It is an extraordinarily challenging task as you are comparing our best athletes achieving great things in a vast array of sports and competitions, all with their own points of difference.
I reconcile this by reminding myself we are celebrating NZ sports, athletes and coaches.
Hayden Meikle
Hayden is the sports editor at the Otago Daily Times newspaper in Dunedin. He previously served as the paper’s rugby writer and assistant editor, and is also a former editor of the Oamaru Mail. He has been a journalist since 1998.
Steven Holloway
Host of Between Two Beers podcast, former Premium Sports Editor of the NZ Herald.
Dan Buckingham
A former Paralympic athlete, Dan represented New Zealand in wheelchair rugby with the ‘Wheel Blacks’ for 16 years, including being part of the Gold Medal winning team at Athens 2004 and captaining the side in Beijing 2008. Locally, he represented Canterbury and Auckland, as well as playing for teams in Australia, Canada and the USA.
Dan has been involved in the governance of the sport with New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby and Drug-Free Sport NZ. Current governance positions are on the board of ACC, Disability Media Collective, and the Screen Production and Development Association. Executive leadership experience includes his current position as CE of Able, championing the goal of equal access to audiovisual media.
Dan also brings significant lived experience, strong networks, and knowledge of the disability sector.
Jayne Craike mnzm
I represented New Zealand at Atlanta, Sydney & Athens Paralympic Games in equestrian dressage, winning Gold and Silver medals in Sydney. I have also won golds at the European, British and Australian Championships and also multiple NZ Championships along the way.
My husband and I built Showfields Equestrian Centre, one of the biggest indoor equestrian venues in the country, which is still active today.
I was an equestrian judge for over 15 years, and a rider and trainer for 25 years.
I was the founding member of Para Equestrian NZ which became the 5th discipline within Equestrian Sports NZ.
In 2001 I was awarded the title Member of New Zealand Order of Merit for services to equestrian sport.
It has been a fabulous journey representing my country, and being involved from grass roots to international level.
And having now retired, it is a great honour to be a Halberg Judge.
Dame Sophie Pascoe
New Zealand’s most decorated para-athlete,
19 Paralympic medals (including eleven gold) across four Games, 17 IPC world titles, and multiple world records.
In 2018 Dame Sophie was named flag-bearer and team captain at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, becoming the first para-athlete to lead the New Zealand team out at a major Games.
Advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality
Apprentice Swimming New Zealand board member
Most recently, Dame Sophie became a mother to a son with her husband Rob.
Grace Prendergast
Grace is a double Olympian, Olympic Gold and Silver Medallist, 5 x world champion, current holder of two worlds best times, and was ranked the number one female rower in the world for two consecutive years. She represented New Zealand in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020(1) Olympic Games in rowing and won a Gold Medal in the pair and silver in the eight in the Tokyo. Additionally she is a Masters Graduate from the University of Cambridge and Cambridge vs Oxford boat race winner. She has been recognised for her services to Rowing and Leadership by being appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and Honorary Fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge. Since retiring from Sport, Grace has remained involved in rowing and commentates at regattas such as Henley Royal Regatta and The Boat Race and is a presenter for World Rowing at International Regattas.
Supreme Halberg Award and Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year – Voting Academy Members
Andrew Alderson
Kirstie Stanway
Andrew Mulligan
Joseph Sullivan
Bernadine Oliver-Kerby
Ivan Vicelich
Tom Bartlett
Fred Woodcock
Jodi Brown
Sarah Cowley Ross
Marc Hinton
Eddie Kohlhase
Ben Lucas
Suzanne McFadden
Lesley Murdoch
Dame Farah Palmer
Polly Powrie
Caitlin Regal
Alison Shanks
Ben Fouhy
Jan Shearer
Abby Wilson
Karl Tenana
Irene van Dyk
Grant Sharman
Hayden Meikle
Steven Holloway
Dan Buckingham
Jayne Craike mnzm
Grace Prendergast
Andrew Alderson
Andrew writes and broadcasts for NZME, predominantly on cricket and the Olympic disciplines with Newstalk ZB and the New Zealand Herald. He has regularly worked as a correspondent overseas and currently presents the sports news on The Mike Hosking Breakfast.
Kirstie Stanway
Andrew Mulligan
Joseph Sullivan
Bernadine Oliver-Kerby
Ivan Vicelich
Tom Bartlett
Tom is one of New Zealand’s most experienced sports journalists having covered global sports events including the Rugby World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Olympics and Paralympics Games.
Fred Woodcock
Jodi Brown
Sarah Cowley Ross
Marc Hinton
Eddie Kohlhase
Ben Lucas
Suzanne McFadden
Suzanne McFadden is an award-winning sports writer of four decades, a book author and podcaster.
Lesley Murdoch
Dame Farah Palmer
Dr. Farah Palmer is a former New Zealand rugby union player and a prominent figure in women’s rugby. A trailblazer in the sport, she played for the New Zealand Black Ferns, earning 35 caps. Palmer was a key player in the team’s multiple Rugby World Cup victories, helping lead the Black Ferns to triumph in 1998, 2002, and 2006. Known for her leadership and expertise as a lock, she was integral to the team’s success and is regarded as one of the best players in women’s rugby history.
After retiring from playing, Dr. Palmer earned a PhD in education and became an advocate for women in sport, furthering her impact through her work as a coach, academic, and administrator. She has been a strong voice for gender equality in sports and continues to contribute to the growth and development of women’s rugby worldwide.
Polly Powrie
Caitlin Regal
Caitlin is an Olympic gold medallist (K2 500m, Tokyo 2020) and World Champion (K2 500m, Račice 2017) kayak sprinter.
Alison Shanks
Ben Fouhy
2003 World Champion K1 1000m
2003 Halberg Sportman of the Year
2004 Olympic Silver medallist K1 1000m
2006-2011 Holder of Worlds Best Time K1 1000m
Jan Shearer
Abby Wilson
Abby is the 1 News Sports Editor at TVNZ and has spent more than a decade covering Kiwi athletes and their achievements. She’s reported on Olympic and Commonwealth Games as well as America’s Cups and World Championships. Her award winning journalism has taken her around Aotearoa and the world and given her a front row seat to some of our most iconic sporting moments.
Karl Tenana
Former Rugby World Cup 7s winning captain. 2x Hong Kong player of the tournament. Commonwealth games gold medal. 4x World sevens series winner. Maori All Black. New Zealand secondary schools. Superrugby. Current Producer and head of commentary @World Rugby
Irene van Dyk
Originally from South Africa, where I played 72 tests for the national team, I immigrated to New Zealand in 2000 and became a Silver Fern and the most capped player.
Over my 20-year international career, I played 217 combined test caps. Since retiring from international netball in 2014, I have remained actively involved in the sport, focusing on grassroots development, coaching, and promoting inclusion and participation across all levels of netball.
I am a passionate advocate for youth development, community engagement, and fostering a lifelong love for the game. Initiatives such as futureFERNS, male participation and No limits netball and my commitment to creating inclusive environments exemplify my passion for my sport.
Grant Sharman
In 1977 aged 15, Grant broke his neck playing rugby. After three months in Middlemore Hospital, Grant was transferred to the newly opened Spinal Unit with the distinction of being it’s first patient. Grant was resident at the Spinal Unit from 1977-1988.
Grant played wheelchair rugby and was a member of the New Zealand Wheel Blacks at the 1995 and 1998 World Championships and 1996 and 2000 Paralympics, captain for the last three events. In 2003 he was appointed the Wheel Blacks Coach and the team went on to win the Gold medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics and the Silver medal at the 2006 World Championships in Christchurch. Grant was also Paralympics NZ’s High Performance Director from 2008-2012.
Being a member of The Halberg Sport Award’s judging team is both an honour and a privilege. It is an extraordinarily challenging task as you are comparing our best athletes achieving great things in a vast array of sports and competitions, all with their own points of difference.
I reconcile this by reminding myself we are celebrating NZ sports, athletes and coaches.
Hayden Meikle
Hayden is the sports editor at the Otago Daily Times newspaper in Dunedin. He previously served as the paper’s rugby writer and assistant editor, and is also a former editor of the Oamaru Mail. He has been a journalist since 1998.
Steven Holloway
Host of Between Two Beers podcast, former Premium Sports Editor of the NZ Herald.
Dan Buckingham
A former Paralympic athlete, Dan represented New Zealand in wheelchair rugby with the ‘Wheel Blacks’ for 16 years, including being part of the Gold Medal winning team at Athens 2004 and captaining the side in Beijing 2008. Locally, he represented Canterbury and Auckland, as well as playing for teams in Australia, Canada and the USA.
Dan has been involved in the governance of the sport with New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby and Drug-Free Sport NZ. Current governance positions are on the board of ACC, Disability Media Collective, and the Screen Production and Development Association. Executive leadership experience includes his current position as CE of Able, championing the goal of equal access to audiovisual media.
Dan also brings significant lived experience, strong networks, and knowledge of the disability sector.
Jayne Craike mnzm
I represented New Zealand at Atlanta, Sydney & Athens Paralympic Games in equestrian dressage, winning Gold and Silver medals in Sydney. I have also won golds at the European, British and Australian Championships and also multiple NZ Championships along the way.
My husband and I built Showfields Equestrian Centre, one of the biggest indoor equestrian venues in the country, which is still active today.
I was an equestrian judge for over 15 years, and a rider and trainer for 25 years.
I was the founding member of Para Equestrian NZ which became the 5th discipline within Equestrian Sports NZ.
In 2001 I was awarded the title Member of New Zealand Order of Merit for services to equestrian sport.
It has been a fabulous journey representing my country, and being involved from grass roots to international level.
And having now retired, it is a great honour to be a Halberg Judge.
Grace Prendergast
Grace is a double Olympian, Olympic Gold and Silver Medallist, 5 x world champion, current holder of two worlds best times, and was ranked the number one female rower in the world for two consecutive years. She represented New Zealand in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020(1) Olympic Games in rowing and won a Gold Medal in the pair and silver in the eight in the Tokyo. Additionally she is a Masters Graduate from the University of Cambridge and Cambridge vs Oxford boat race winner. She has been recognised for her services to Rowing and Leadership by being appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and Honorary Fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge. Since retiring from Sport, Grace has remained involved in rowing and commentates at regattas such as Henley Royal Regatta and The Boat Race and is a presenter for World Rowing at International Regattas.
Sky Sport Emerging Talent – Voting Panel
DJ Forbes
Ron Cheatley
Ruth Aitken
Mary Fisher
Paul Allison
Sarah Walker
Dame Sophie Pascoe
DJ Forbes
Ron Cheatley
Ruth Aitken
Mary Fisher
Paul Allison
Sarah Walker
NZ Olympian #1101, Olympic Silver 2012 in BMX Racing, IOC Member and mum of two.
Dame Sophie Pascoe
New Zealand’s most decorated para-athlete,
19 Paralympic medals (including eleven gold) across four Games, 17 IPC world titles, and multiple world records.
In 2018 Dame Sophie was named flag-bearer and team captain at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, becoming the first para-athlete to lead the New Zealand team out at a major Games.
Advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality
Apprentice Swimming New Zealand board member
Most recently, Dame Sophie became a mother to a son with her husband Rob.
New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment of the Year – Voting Panel
Storm Purvis
Andrew Alderson
Marc Hinton
Ollie Ritchie
Storm Purvis
Former Silver Fern turned broadcaster. Storm has hosted the Halbergs, is cohost of Crowd Goes Wild, and has worked on netball, football, rugby league, the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games as a reporter/presenter for Sky Sport. Storm is also a board member of the NZNPA.
Andrew Alderson
Andrew writes and broadcasts for NZME, predominantly on cricket and the Olympic disciplines with Newstalk ZB and the New Zealand Herald. He has regularly worked as a correspondent overseas and currently presents the sports news on The Mike Hosking Breakfast.
